Collapsible bedding supporting device



March 5, 1957 v R. E. SCHMIDT ET AL 2,783,482

COLLAPSIBLE BEDDING SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed Oct. 12, 1953 "1, Richard..Scl;midf

James 8. Green 4 INVENTORSI COLLAPSIBLE BEDDING SUPPORTING DEVICERichard E. Schmidt, Salt Lake City, Utah, and James B. Green, Pocatello,Idaho Application October 12, 1953, Serial No. 385,384

2 Claims. (Cl. -319) This invention relates to new and usefulimprovements and structural refinements in devices for supportingbedding such as bed covers, sheets, and the like, so that such beddingdoes not come in direct contact with the feet of the occupant of thebed, and the principal object of the invention is to provide a device ofthe character herein described, which may be quickly and easily foldedor collapsed to an inoperative position when the use thereof is notdesired.

An important feature of the invention, therefore, resides in theprovision of a frame which may be applied to the customary mattress ofthe bed so as to support the bedding in an elevated position, but whichmay be swung to a collapsed out-of-the-way position on the mattress sothat it is unobtrusive and need not be altogether removed from the bedwhen not in use.

Another feature of the invention resides in the construction of theentire device from a single piece of rod, such as a wire rod, or thelike, while some of the advantages of the invention lie in its eflicientoperation and in its adaptability to economical manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the invention in use;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional detail, taken substantially in theplane of the line 2-2 in Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially in theplane of the line 3-3 in Figure 2.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the collapsiblesupporting device is designated generally by the reference character andconsists of a frame 12 which is preferably formed from a single piece ofwire rod, or the like, and includes a horizontal linearly straight lowerportion 14 which functions in the nature of a combined frame anchoringand fulcruming member, as will be hereinafter described.

A pair of upstanding connecting vertical pieces 16 are provided at theends of the portion 14 and are laterally disposed and equipped at theirrespective upper ends with a pair of inwardly projecting, horizontalshoulder members 18 which, in turn, are connected together by an archedupper member 20, the latter generally U-shaped in form.

When the invention is placed in use, it is handily positioned andbridled over one end portion of a conventional mattress 22 so that thelower member 14 of the frame 12 is interposed between the spring andmattress and underlies the mattress in a transverse relation, while theside pieces 16 straddle the lengthwise sides of the mattress and theshoulder members 18 rest rockably on the upper States Patent 0 surfaceof the mattress, as is clearly shown in the accompanying drawing. Inthis position the portions 14, 16 and 18 are harnessed on the mattressand the arched member 20 extends upwardly from the mattress and supportsthe bed clothing 24 in an elevated position above the feet of theoccupant.

However, when the use of the invention is not desired, the entire frame12 is simply rotated in the direction of the arrow 26 in Figure 3 withthe lower portion 14 anchored under the mattress acting as a fulcrum, sothat the upper oblique angled portion 20 of the frame rests firmly onthe top of the mattress in a collapsed position, as indicated by thedotted lines 28.

In this position, the entire frame is quite unobtrusive and need not beremoved from the mattress when the use thereof is not desired.

It will be also observed that the shoulder members 18, engageable withthe upper surface of the mattress 22, will function as effective stopsor abutments for sustaining the frame either in its operative orinoperative position, as the case may be.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will bereadily understood and further explanation is believed to beunnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction shown and described, andaccordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resortedto, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A bed mattress attachment which functions to elevate bed clothing atthe foot end of the mattress, which stays in position on the mattressand is foldable downwardly to an out-of-the-way position when its use isnot desired comprising an endless one-piece frame embodying a linearlystraight anchoring and fulcruming member which takes a positioninterposed between the bottom of the mattress and top of the usual bedspring and extends transversely across the mattress in contact with theunderside of the mattress, a pair of vertical laterally disposed endmembers at right angles to and connected to the respective ends of saidanchoring member and bridging the respective lengthwise sides of themattress and having lateral turned-in bends at their upper ends, saidbents paralleling said fulcruming member and resting atop and in contactwith the mattress and constituting retaining and shoulder formingmembers, and a generally U-shaped arch-forming upper member of a lengthless than the length of said fulcruming member and having a bightportion horizontally disposed and also parallel to said fulcrumingmember and end portions joined to the turned-in bends.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 and wherein said fulcruming member,laterally disposed end members, and turned-in bends are all in the sameplane and said archforming U-shaped member is at an approximate obtuseangle in respect to the plane of said fulcruming member, end members andbends, whereby when it is swung in the direction of the top of themattress, it assumes direct outof-the-way contact with the mattress.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS668,543 Rawlings Feb. 19, 1901 1,835,798 McKay Dec. 8, 1931 2,678,184Erdody May 11, 1954 2,710,414 Emery June 14, 1955

